Loggers avoid environmental laws by labelling operations 'road maintenance'

The Forestry Corporation of NSW has been accused of circumventing environmental protections by classifying tree logging as road maintenance in Glenbog State Forest. Located in southeast NSW, the forest is believed to be a crucial habitat for the critically endangered greater glider. The NSW Environment Protection Authority is currently investigating the logging operation, which involved the felling of approximately 1,000 trees, including those used by threatened species as dens.

Conservationists and legal advocates argue that the corporation exploited a legal loophole, potentially exposing up to 50,000 kilometers of roadside forest to unregulated logging. In the operation, 21 truckloads of timber were removed, with some trees up to 100 years old. While the Forestry Corporation claims the work was necessary for road maintenance, environmental groups argue that the operation should have been conducted under forestry laws and EPA regulations.